NFL Week 4 Predictions: Projecting Best, Worst Sunday Performances

Week 4 of the 2013 NFL season brings us the beginning of bye season. As such, weekly rankings get shaken up from here until we say bye to the byes.

Both the Packers and Panthers are off this week, taking a host of fantasy football options like Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton off the table.

*These predictions are based on offensive skill players who are expected to start or garner a significant amount of game action. You wouldn't expect a fourth-string receiver to have a good game—those predictions are implied.

Best at Quarterback

Peyton Manning is on pace for 6,096 passing yards and 64 passing touchdowns this season.

As unlikely as that is, he is playing at a godlike level. The addition of Wes Welker and emergence of tight end Julius Thomas have elevated this offense to near flawless levels. And he gets to play against the Eagles next.

Worst at Quarterback

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Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

His top receiver is gimpy, and he is going up against the best secondary in the NFL. The Seahawks are more vulnerable on the road without that 12th man to buoy them, but they will still be a vicious test for that Texans offense.

Prediction: 225 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions

Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers might have had it with Josh Freeman, but that doesn't mean rookie Mike Glennon is going to fare much better.

Best at Running Back

Things haven't gone so smoothly for Adrian Peterson since he took his first carry of the season for a 78-yard touchdown.

The stud running back has averaged just 2.98 yards per carry since that inaugural scamper, a woefully low number for a guy who averaged 3.9 yards after contact per carry last season. He has scored two touchdowns since then as well, but he hasn't quite lived up to his No. 1-overall status over the past two-plus games.

That all changes this weekend when he squares off against a Pittsburgh defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season. All Day is in for a nice game.

Were it not for the Rams imploding on Thursday night, the Lions would currently allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. That is a rather curious statistic given that front four featuring Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, though the latter has dealt with injuries.

The Bears, meanwhile, have done a good job of getting Matt Forte the ball and finally living up to fantasy expectations this season—at least through three games.

Maurice Jones-Drew was a garbage-time hero against the Seahawks last week—the only reason he got any traction in an otherwise awful matchup.

The Texans should play a much more competitive game, thus forcing Seattle to actually play defense in the second half. That could spell trouble for Arian Foster, who hasn't quite lit up opposing defenses thus far this season.

He is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry, and he has only hit paydirt once in three games.

Best at Wide Receiver

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Wes Welker, Denver Broncos

That thing you read about Peyton Manning in the first slide? It applies to just about every receiver in Denver.

Guessing which one is going to hit "bingo" is a bit of a soothsayer's game, but Philadelphia has given up a lot of yardage and touchdowns to second-choice opposing receivers. Demaryius Thomas remains the team's best receiver, but Wes Welker could be the biggest beneficiary of facing that sieve-like Philadelphia defense.

Washington's Leonard Hankerson, San Diego's Eddie Royal and Kansas City's Donnie Avery have combined for 311 yards and five touchdowns against the Eagles through the first three weeks.

It has been a good couple weeks for Pierre Garcon owners after his Week 1 dud. He didn't get into the end zone against Detroit last week, but he caught eight passes for the second straight game, getting to 23 on the year.

Best at Tight End

We may as well put a pin in Graham here for every week, but this is a particularly good one for him.

The Dolphins haven't been very good against tight ends this season, though Tony Gonzalez didn't get much last week. That was more due to game-planning for Miami's pass rush than anything Miami did to stop him.

Graham is the game's best tight end until Rob Gronkowski gets healthy.

Prediction: seven receptions, 110 yards, one touchdown

Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

As with Dez Bryant, Jason Witten is going to be integral to Tony Romo's weekend with Miles Austin out.

Prediction: seven receptions, 85 yards, one touchdown

Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers

This doesn't necessarily mean he will have a top-five day, but Heath Miller has sneaked back into fantasy relevance and has a good matchup against the Vikings this week.

Minnesota has given up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends thus far this season, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger relies on his tight ends a fair amount.

Worst at Tight End

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Scott Chandler, Buffalo Bills

Don't be fooled by his Week 3 explosion—Scott Chandler has been here before.

Every time he has a big game, it seems like he disappears for weeks at a time. He has averaged 38.8 yards in the games after he has had 60-plus receiving yards. The Ravens have tightened up against tight ends since giving up that monstrous game to Julius Thomas.